Formula 1 team Sauber has announced it has a new team principal, with founder Peter Sauber stepping down from his regular duties, making way for Monisha Kaltenborn taking the reins.
The change takes place immediately ahead of this weekend's race in Korea.
Kaltenborn will become the first female team principal in Formula 1.
Kaltenborn has worked with the team since 2000 when she joined the long-standing F1 squad in its legal department. Recently, she has held the role as CEO before today's announcement of her promotion. Kaltenborn also owns a third of the team.
Sauber will continue as the president of the Sauber Group's board of directors and said that the Kaltenborn's new role should come as no surprise.
“We decided a long time ago that Monisha would take over from me, but we left the timing open,” he said in a statement.
“Now is a good time for both of us, so this is the right moment to pass on the baton. After all, there have been a number of races I've been unable to attend – most recently the Japanese Grand Prix, where the team put in an excellent performance.
“I'm in no doubt that Monisha has all the necessary skills to be an outstanding team principal, and I'm equally certain she will ensure that the values underpinning the company live on. That is very important to me.”
The Sauber team currently sits sixth in the 2012 Constructors Championship and is the fourth oldest F1 team racing this year. Team drivers Sergio Perez and Kamui Kobayashi sit 10th and 11th in the driver's standings.
Practice for the Formula 1 Korean Grand Prix kicks off tomorrow.
See below for Speedcafe.com's Korean Grand Prix Race Guide.